August 14, 2017 AT 1:00 pm

The secret rhythm behind Radiohead’s “Videotape” #MusicMonday

This video from Vox takes a hard look at one of Radiohead’s most beloved songs “Videotape.”

In my first episode of Earworm, I speak with Warren Lain. He’s a Radiohead fan who also happens to be an incredibly talented musician and music teacher. In December 2016 he uploaded a 38 minute video to YouTube about a Radiohead song that I deeply love, “Videotape.” He had been thinking about the music theory behind this seemingly simple song for the better part of a decade. The reason? “Videotape”, a slow rhythmically monotonous song, is actually syncopated. I’m joined also by Erin Barra, a professor at Berklee College of Music, who helped Warren and I explain this musical illusion.